According to David Marzullo, a spokesman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, investigators were first notified about the abuse case on October 13, 2011. One dog was found dead and another suffering from severe neglect at a home in the 5400 block of Thrush Avenue, located in the Walnut Park East neighborhood in north St. Louis.

Police interviewed neighbors and witnesses and eventually located the suspect, identified as Cennitra Fowler, who had since moved, Marzullo said.

The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office charged Cennitra Fowler with two counts of animal abuse.